Printing machine



July 8 1924. 1,500,424

A. SMITH PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 28, 1922 a; *uuuwmlFlkI W will ToaZZ w hom it may concern Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,500,4n PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS H. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'EQ'AMERICAN BANKTNOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'A' CORPORATION OF=NEW YORK. V

PRINTING MACHINE.

Application'filed October as, 1922, Serial No. 597,441. Renewedlseptember25,6,1923.

' Be it-known that I, AMos H. SMrrH,'a citi- -zen of the United States, residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county otKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form apart thereof.

My invention relates to printing machines, and more particularly to a machine adapted for use in finishing bank notes, stocks, bonds or similar negotiable or security instruments wherein previously printed sheets have impressed thereon, designating numbers and authenticating signatures or emblems.

Heretofore in this art it has been the common practice, in impressing the matter above referred to upon negotiable or other security instruments, to number the instruments by one machine and to impressthe authenticating matter thereon by another machine, and thus not only requiring a double handling of each sheet ofpaper, buthaving a tendency to increase the number of rejects, owing to the difficulty of securing register in succeeding impressions.

A machine embodying my invention is so constructed and combined that'the instruments upon each sheet will have impressed thereon suitable identifyingnumbers and authenticating signatures or emblems, with a single run of the sheet by means of distinct printing elements each having its own inking mechanism so as to permit the use of inks of different colors if desired, both of said mechanisms being associated with the same impression cylinder and being so synchronized in their functioning as to compensate for the different time intervals required for inking the printing member of each of said mechanisms preparatory to each impression thereof.

- One of the printing mechanisms above rereferred to is an ordinary numbering head cylinder, while the other member thereof is a printing plate, it being essential to secure the desired strength in the two impressions, to effect a double inking of the digit wheels upon each numbering head, and on the printing plate. YVith each cycle of the printing plate, it will receive a double inking from its inking mechanism, and since suchdouble inking of the numbering head wheels can be sehead cylinder or aaiameter which will fequire a cycle of'two revolutions thereofto each cycle of the printing plate, so'that the angular speed of said numbering heads'will coincide with the speedofsaid'printing plate,

and provide means whereby the'various'numberingheads'carried by the printing cylinder will be actuated only upon alternate'rev'olu tions thereof, which means is controlled from the impression cylinder shaftand is entirely automatic in its functioning, By themechanism' above described, an impression will be made during each cycle of the printing'plate, but during only" alternate revolutionsof the impression cylinder. H

lncombination with the mechanisms time tioniug as above described, I'pro'vide "manually controlled throw-E means l'wher' eby the mechanism for alternately 'mov'in g the numbering head actuating means into 1 and out of the operativerelation; with the heads upon the numbering head cylinder, be made inoperative when the saidactuating means isotit of the'ope rative relation -tol the numbering heads, thus permitting the making of impressions from the pri'nting lplate, without progressively actuating the wheels of the various numbering heads. v

I alsoprovide means, wherebythe numbering headcylinder may be moved by a manually operative mechanism, into and out ot the operative relation to the impressi'oncylinder, so as'to permit impressions to be made solely from the plate upon the plate carrying member, it being possible to utilize said throw-01f mechanism to move the actuating means for the wheels of the various numbering heads out of the operative relation thereto, while the machine is so set, thus permitting a resumption of work and the printing of numbers in regular sequence, as desired. Y Y

The construction is also such that, k if desired, the numbering head cylinder maybe moved out of the operative relation to the impression cylinder, and the actuating means for the various numbering heads may be brought and maintained in the operative relation to said numbering heads so as to cause the actuation of the digit wheels of lower denomination with each revolution of the numbering head cylinder to facilitate the initial inking of these digit wheels preparatory to a run of the machine, it being necessary to actuate the throw-off mechanism to disconnect the mechanism operative upon the actuating means for the digit wheels to permit a setting of the machine in the manner immediately above referred to.

The invention consists primarily in a printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numberinghead cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith, an impression cylinder co-operating with the plate upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, numbering head actuating means, and means operative in synchronism with said impression cylinder, whereby.said numbering head actuating means will be brought into the operative relation to said numbering heads, and out of operative relation thereto, upon alternate revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member; and in such other novel features of construction and combina tion of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a printing machine embodying my invention'; and

Fig. 2 is an end view of one side of the machine.

Like numerals refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the side frames of the ma chine are indicated at 10 and supported in said side frames is a suitable plate carrier 11, which in the form of the invention shown consists of an ordinary reciprocatory flat bed having mounted thereon, a printing plate 12 which is ordinarily a cameo printing plate. The plate carrier may be actuated in any desired manner, the actuating mechanism not being shown as this forms no part of my present invention.

Associated with the plate carrier 11 in operative relation to the printing plate 12 thereon, is an inking mechanism 13 of any desired or approved construction. hen reciprocatory flat bed is used, which construction I prefer, the inking mechanism 13 will apply ink twice, or give a double inking, to the plate 12 with each cycle of operation of the plate carrier.

Mounted above the plate (arrier 11 is a numbering head cylinder 14 carrying thereon numbering heads 15 of the usual construction. Associated with said numbering head cylinder is an inking mechanism 16 adapted to apply ink to the printing characters upon the digit wheels of the numbering heads with each revolution of the numbering head cylinder.

In order to effect a double inking of the printing characters upon the digit wheels of the various numbering heads 15, I make said numbering head cylinder of a diameter which will require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed which will be coincident with the printing speed of the plate 12 upon the carrier 11, so that during two succeeding revolutions of the cylinder, the printing characters upon the numbering heads 15 are inked preparatory to the making of each impression therefrom, while impressions are made by the numbering heads 15 and by the plate 12 consecutively, upon each sheet of paper fed to the machine;

Co-operating with the various numbering heads 15 and with the plate 12 is an impression cylinder or D-roll 17 having the usual grippers 18 and having associated therewith the usual feed shelf 19,

Ordinarily in machines using numbering heads for consecutive numbering, a plurality of circumferentially extending groups of numbering heads are employed, means being employed whereby the numbering heads of each group are actuated one or more times with each revolution of the numbering head cylinder to progressively actuate the digit wheels of each head in each group. In the form of the invention shown, this actuating mechanism comprises a shaft 20 having mounted thereon a plurality of crank arms or striker members 21 operative respectively upon the numbering heads of a group, said shaft being adapted to be so actuated as to bring the striker members into or out of the operative relation to the cooperating mechanism upon the respective numbering heads. In a machine embodying my invention, said striker members are so controlled that through the automatic functioning of the machine, they will be brought into and out of the operative relation with the numbering heads actuated thereby, during alternate revolutions of the numbering head cylinder, the mechanismfor securing this result being actuated from the shaft of the impression cylinder, which cylinder is twice the diameter of said numbering head cylinder and actuates same through the intermeshing gears 22 and 23 between said cylinders.

The mechanism by which the shaft 20 and its striker members 21 are actuated for the purpose above specified, consists in the form of the invention shown, of a crank arm 24 carried by the shaft 20 and having a stud 25 mounted in a cam slot 26 in an oscillatory member 27, which in the form of the invention shown consists of a disk mounted upon a stud 28 upon the frame of the machine.

nae-e424 flhe ioscillatory member or disk {2'( -}carries a crank '29 co -operating iwithwhlch .iS a

.Gonnecting rod 30," one end' of which is slotted as "at-'31 andisslidably mounted upon the shaft 32 ofrthe impression cylinder'or '5't i ra '-;29 2 nili j nn t In e the e gagement and disengagement of -the rod I 30 the "member 27. Q'arried "upon the "frame offth" machineis a SilppOIti3 6 adapted tocopperate'witha portion of the connecting rod 30 adjacentthefree end thereof,

which rod is provided wi-tha' bayonetslot for the purpose of timing the disengagement of the rod 30 with the crank 29in relation to the printing interval when the throw-ofl' mechanism is actuated, This bayonet slot indicated at 37 and the openfendflof the slot is presented towards the'member 33 and of .a length toreceive said memberywhen the connecting lrod is so pjo s iti'orred' "as to bring .said opening above saidstud'thus; perrelative movement of the rodl 30and the member- 38 when "the throwdiii'" mecha- "nism is set for" causing a downward movement of'saidconnecting rod. 7

l Th la i fif Part s" 1. 1-' ha h c necting rod 30 cannot be disconnected from v the crank 29 of the disk e cept'at a time when said disk is so actuated' astofmove the-striker membersfel cult oif thefoperative relation'to th respective groups of num- Mounted below the -'rod 30, is an'oscillatory lever 39 one arm of which is acted upon by a spring'40, and the other arm of which is connecte cl'by the link 41 to the rod 30 by means :carried'by said and the slot 43 in .said arm, whichslot -is of suflicient .lengthlto permit the "desired longitudinal movement .of the rod30l The link 41 is pivotedat 44 to the arm of the lever, and \said spring exerts a normal tendency'to actuate said lever in a mannerto move the connecting rod30 downwardly. This action of the spring .40 is restrained 'by a latch tooth 45 upon said lever and a trip dog 46 .co-operateing therewith and adapted 'tobe actuated a peony. spring 48 "acts upon saidlpedal in a manner to normally engage'said dog with latchtooth.

Th nk 1: 8 s idd'in moveme by means of a slot 49 therein which slidably engagesra stud 50 upon theside -frame of-the ,machi The oscillatory member or disk 27 is provided with a crank handle 51'by means of which the shaft 20 and the striker members 21 may be actuated independently of the connecting'rod 30 and crank pin 29,-thus permitting said striker members to be brought into engaginovrelation -with the "various numbering heads '15 after disengage me'nt of the rod '30 with said crank pin 29. The numbering head cylinder 14 is mount ed upon the usual eccentric bushing 52 whichmay be manually actuated for mov- "ing said cylinder in' its entirety toward or from "the impression cylinder or Dfro-ll '17, and permitting the actuation ofthe numbering head, for inking purposes preparatory to "a-l run, without causing oflsetting on the blanket on the impression cylinder orDroll. The manuallyoperative means consists of a crank 53 carried by said bushing, and a -h'a nd lever 54 mounted'upon the frameof themachine and connected with the crank 53, by the link-55.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows As each sheet of paper having matter-impressed thereon preparatory to'the delivery iofthezsheet for the finishing operations, is fed from the shelf 19 to the grippers 18 upon the impression cylinder '17, the same surface ofthe sheet is successively brought into printing relation to the numbering heads 15*upon the numbering head cylinder 14, and the plate 12 upon the plate carrier "11, saidn u'1nbering heads impressing numbers or any other desired identifying marks in one position upon each design on the f she'et, and the plate 12 impressing signaeach sheet ordinarilyflhas a" plurality of similar or duplicateimpressions which have been impressed upon the sheet' before itis delivered to the machine.

Since the cylinder 17 is twice the diameter of the cylinder 14, said cylinder 14 will have two revolutions'to one of the cylinder '17, 'no'impressions being made during the second revolution of said cylinder 14 by reason of thefact'that the blanketupon the cylinder 17 extends for less than 180 in are of said cylinder 17.

After each numbering head has completed its printing operation with relation to a s'heet, it is brought into engagement with the actuating means or striker members 21 so that the mechanism carried by each numrbering hea'd coeoperating with said striker members will advance the digit wheels of t e um ering sp ep ati ry to the 1 printing operation. Hence, if the striker members 21 werepermitted to act upon the numbering heads With each revolution there of, the numbering heads would skip and lUU impart oscillatory movement to the member 27 through the connecting rod 30 and crank 29 and thus cause the cam slot 26 to rock the shaft through the medium of the crank arm 24, and its stud mounted in said slot, to move the striker members 21 out of the operative relation to the various numbering heads, so that during the following revolution of the cylinder 14, the numbering head will not be actuated. This dwell of the numbering heads during one complete revolution of the cylinder 14 permits a double inking thereof. At the conclusion of a movement of 180 in arc of the cam 33, the connecting rod will receive a ill reverse movement and the member 27 will be actuated to restore the striker members 21 to their normal operative position, so that immediately following the next printing interval of the numbering heads, they will be actuated to progressively actuate the digit wheels of the various numbering heads preparatory to the next inking operation during the following two revolutions of the cylinder, the second of which will also be a printing revolution.

The cam 33 is so set as to properly time the movements of the striker members with relation to the printing interval and the position of the heads 15 upon the cylinder 14, and with the position of the blanket upon the impression cylinder or D-roll- 17 with relation to the numbering heads, thus syn chronizing the functioning of the numbering heads with that of the plate 12.

The plate 12 will reach the printing position following the completion of the printing operation by the numbering heads, and will impress upon the sheets the matter carried by said plate, the time interval re quired for the inking of the plates 12 being coincident with the time required for the idle revolution of the cylinder 14, and the printing portion. of the second revolution thereof.

If it be desired to actuate the numbering heads without progressively advancing the digit wheels, the throw-01f mechanism is used to disconnect the connecting rod 30 from the crank 29, although this disconnection cannot occur until all of the numbering heads upon the cylinder 14 have been acted upon by the striker members 21 by reason of the fact that the portion of the rod 30 between the opening of the bayonet slot and the end of said lever, will ride upon the member 36 until the rod 30 has completed its full reciprocatory movement or completed the oscillatory movement of the member or disk 27 Immediately upon the completion of this movement, however, the normal tendency of the spring 40 to oscillate the lever 39 will draw the link 41 downwardly and with it the rod 30 to an extent to disengage the recess 35 therein from the crank 29. The

bayonet slot, however, will permit the con tinued oscillatory movement of the rod30.

Under normal circumstances the rod 30 will 17. Under some circumstances it is desirable sr to actuate the numbering heads without making impressions therefrom, as when preparing for a run, under which circumstances the parts will be set as described, and the member 27 restored to its normal positionv to cause the striker members to be brought into the desired operative relation torthe numbering heads, by means of the hand crank 51.

The throw-ofi mechanism is merely an.

emergency attachment, and after once having been used, must be reset by hand,the upward movement of the rod .30 positioning the lever 39 into a position where the dog 46 will engage'the tooth 45 by'reason of the action of the spring 48 upon the pedal 47 If it be desired to use the machine for merely impressing matter upon the sheets by the plate 12, the eccentric bushing 52 may be actuated to make the numbering heads inoperative for printing purposes. If no plate 12 is used in the machine, the numbering heads alone may be used for printing purposes, the actuation of the rod 30 causing the double inking of the wheels of'the numbering heads preparatory to each operation in the manner heretofore described. 7

The inking mechanisms 13 and '16 permit the difierent impressions made by the" numbering heads and the plate 12 respectively, to be in different colored inks, which is highly desirable, particularly where the 1 plate 12 carries facsimile signatures, which are ordinarily printed in black ink, while the numbers or other matterimpressed by the numbering heads is ordinarily in a colored ink.

It is not my intention. to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an .inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith, an impression cylinder cooperat ing withthe, plateupon said plate carryingmember and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, numbering head actuating means, and means operative in synchronism with said impression cylinder, whereby said numbering head actuating; means will be brought into the goperative relation to said numbering heads, and out. ofoperativerelation thereto, upon alternate revolutionsof said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder'being of a'diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with'the speed of said printing plate carrying member.

2. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith; an j impression cylinder cooperating with the plate upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, numberinghead actuating means, means 0perative in synchronism with said impression cylinder, whereby said'numberinghead actuating means. will be brought into the operative relation to said numbering heads,

and out of operative relation thereto, upon with the plate upon said. plate carrying mem her and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, numbering head actuating means, means operative in synchronism with said impression cylinder, whereby said. numbering head actuating means will be brought into the operative relation to said numbering heads, and out of operative relation thereto, upon alternate revolutions of .said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, a manually operative throw-ofi' mechanism controlling the operatiyeeiiect of said last named means, and meanswhereby said numberinghead actuatinglme'ans maybe brought into the operative relation to the numbering heads after said throw-ofl mechanism has been actuated. a 4; A printlng machine embodying therein aprinting'plate carrying member, an ink-. ing mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon. an inking mechanism associated. therewith, an impression cylinder cooperatsaid numbering head cylinder respectively,

numbering head actuating'mea'ns, means; op erative 1n synchronlsm with said impressiom cylinder, whereby said numbering head actuating'means will be brought'into the oper at1ve relation'to said numbering heads, and

out of the operative relation thereto, upon" alternate revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said'numbering head cylinder being of a diameter torequire two -revolu-- tions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, and means whereby said numbering head cylinder may be brought'into or out of the'operative relation to said impression'cylinder.

5. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate 'carryingmember, an inking ing'witlrthe plate upon said plateicarrying member and with the numbering heads upon:

mechanism associated therewith, anumber ing headjcylinder, 'numbering he'ads thereon,

an inking mechanism' associated therewith, an impression cylinder cooperating with'theplate upon said plate carrying'member and with the numbering heads upon said num bering' head cylinder respectively, numbering head actuating means, means operative;

in synchronism with'said impression cylinder, whereby said numbering head actuating means will be brought into the operative relationto said numbering'heads,and out ofoperative relation thereto, upon alternate revolutions of said numbering head cylin-' der, said numbering head "cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof" todevelop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing platecarrying member, a manually operative throw-off mechanism controlling the operative'efi'eot of said last namedmeans, means whereby said numbering head actuating 'means may be brought into the operative relation to the numbering'heads after said throw-ofl mechanism has been actuated, and means whereby said numbering head cylinder may be brought into or out of the operative relation to said impression cylinder.

6; A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numberinghead cyllnder, numbering heads thereon,

an inking mechanism associated therewith,

an impression cylinder cooperating with the plate upon saidplate carrying member and;

with the numbering headsiupon'said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a

.cessively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of adiameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member.

7. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith, an impression cylinder cooperating with the plate upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a striker member carried thereby adapted to co-operate with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder to progressively actuate the digit wheels thereof, a crank arm carried by said shaft, an oscillatory member, operative connections between said member and said crank arm, a cam moving in synchronism with said im pression cylinder having a rise and a fall thereon at substantially 180 apart, a crank carried by said oscillatory member, and a slidably mounted connecting rod adapted to operatively engage said crank and acted upon by said cam, whereby said shaft will be actuated tosuccessively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member.

8. A printing machine embodying therein a printing-plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering headcylinder, numbering heads thereon,

,an inking mechanism associated therewith,

an impression cylinder cooperating with the plate-upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering headsupon said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a striker member carried thereby adapted to co-operate with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder to progres sively actuate the digit wheels thereof, a crank arm carried by said shaft, an oscillatory member, operative connections between said member and said crank arm, a cam moving in synchronism with said impression cylinder having a rise and a fall thereon at substantially 180 apart, a crank carried by said oscillatory member, a slid.- ably mounted connecting rod adapted to operatively engage said crank and acted upon by said cam, whereby said shaft will be actuated to successively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, a manually operative throw-off mechanism whereby said connecting rod may be disengaged from the crank carried by said oscillatory member, and means whereby disengagement of said connecting rod and said crank is prevented until said striker member is out of the operative relation to said numbering heads.

9. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking,

mechanism associated therewith, a numbermg head cylinder, numbering heads there-- on, an inking mechanism associated there-, with, an impression cyl nder cooperating with the plate upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a striker member carried thereby adapted to' co-operatewith the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder to progressively actuate the digit wheels there-- of, a crank arm carried by said shaft, an

oscillatory member, operative connections between said member and said crank arm,

a moving in sy-nohronism with said impression cylinder having a rise and a fall thereon at substantially 180 apart, a crank carried by said oscillatory member, a slid ably mounted connecting rod adapted to operatively engage said crank and acted upon by said cam, whereby said shaft will be actuated to successively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation. to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said number- .ing head cylinder, said numbemng head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, a manually operative throwolf mechanism whereby said connecting rod may be disengaged from the crank carried by said oscillatory member,

means whereby disengagement of said connecting rod and said crank is prevented until '3 tion to said impression cylinder.

10. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a num bering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith, an impression cylinder cooperating with the plate upon said plate carrying member and with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a striker member carried thereby adapted to co-operate with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder to progressively actuate the digit wheels there of, a crank arm carried by said shaft, an oscillatory member, operative connections between said member and said crank arm, a cam moving in synchronism with said i1npression cylinderhaving a rise and a fall thereon at substantially 180 apart, a crank carried by said oscillatory member, a slidably mounted connecting rod ada ted to operatively engage said crank ant acted upon by said cam, whereby said shaft will be actuated to successively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, a manually operative throw-oft mechanism whereby said connecting rod may be disengaged from the crank carried by said oscillatory member, means whereby disengagement of said connecting rod and said crank is prevented until said striker member is out of the operative relation to said numbering heads, and means whereby said oscillatory member may be actuated independently of said connecting rod to bring said striker member into the operative relation to the numbering heads after said throw-ofi' mechanism has been actuated.

11. A printing machine embodying therein a printing plate carrying member, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder, numbering heads thereon, an inking mechanism associated therewith, an impression cylinder cooperating with the plate upon said plate carrying member andwith the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder respectively, a shaft, a striker member carried thereby adapted to co-operate with the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder to progressively actuate the digit wheels thereof, a crank arm carried by said shaft, an oscillatory member, operative connections between said member and said crank arm, a

cam moving in synchronism with said im-' pression cylinder havlng a use and a fall thereon at substantially 180 apart, a crank carried by said oscillatory member, a slidably mounted connect-ing rod adapted to operatively engage said crank and acted upon by said cam, whereby said shaft will be vactuated to successively bring the striker member carried thereby into and out of the operative relation to said numbering heads upon succeeding revolutions of said numbering head cylinder, said numbering head cylinder being of a diameter to requre two revolutions thereof to develop an angular speed coinciding with the speed of said printing plate carrying member, a manually operatiye throw-off mechanism whereby said connecting rod may be disengaged from the crank carried by said oscillatory member, and a stud normally adapted to hold said connecting rod in operative relation to the crank upon said oscillatory member, said connecting rod having a bayonet slot therein, whereby disengagement of said connecting rod and said crank is prevented until said striker member is out of the operative relation to said numbering heads. I

12. A printing machine embodying therein a reciprocatory flat bed adapted to carry a printing plate, an inking mechanism associated therewith, a numbering head cylinder of a diameter to require two revolutions thereof to each full reciprocatory movement of said bed, numbering heads carried thereby, an inking mechanism associated with said numbering head cylinder, an impression cylinder or D-roll adapted to successively co-operate with said numbering head cylinder and said reciprocatory bed, numbering head actuatingmeans, and means whereby said numbering head actuating means will be made inoperative with relation to the numbering heads upon said numbering head cylinder during alternate revolutions thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witne'sses this 9th day of October, 1922.

AMOS H. SMITH.

l/Vitnesses:

F. T. WENTWORTH, FRIEDA KOEHLER. 

